The proposal that won Boulder its bid to host Sundance included a pledge of $34 million over 10 years in contributions to the festival from Boulder organizations, matching the amount already pledged by the state and bringing the total contributions to an estimated $69.8 million.
The coalition of contributors includes Visit Boulder, the Boulder Chamber, CU Boulder and the City of Boulder, according to a Visit Boulder spokesperson. The final amounts of contributions will be determined when contracts are signed and festival planning is "further underway."
“The Boulder partners are not approaching this opportunity as a call to write a lump-sum check,” Visit Boulder spokesperson Karleen Lewis wrote in an emailed statement. “Instead, they are looking forward to participating in a meaningful and evolving partnership with the Sundance Institute to co-create an environmentally responsible, rooted and community-aligned cultural institution, benefiting both Boulder and the State of Colorado.”
Visit Boulder’s contributions include “in-kind destination and marketing support” valued at $250,000 per year and $400,000 per year in cash as the festival “gets established in its new location.” The city’s contributions “could include rebates, permitting reimbursements and direct services, such as assistance with traffic planning, parking coordination and public safety” valued at $2.1 million per year, according to Lewis.
“The Sundance Film Festival represents a unique opportunity to enhance the community’s commitment to arts and culture with an organization that shares Boulder’s core values of equity, sustainability, resilience and inclusion,” Lewis wrote. “It is also an investment in Boulder’s local economy and vibrancy. Even without the Festival, arts and culture events are key economic drivers in Boulder.”
The 2024 Sundance Festival in Utah generated $132 million in economic activity, according to Lewis. Boulder is slated to host the festival for a decade beginning in 2027.
Record-setting Bolder Boulder
Grace Loibach Nawowuna of Kenya set the course record for women in the pro race at Bolder Boulder on May 26, with a time of 31:52 — a 5:08 minute mile and 21 seconds faster than the previous course record set in 1995.
Conner Mantz became the first runner to win three back-to-back titles in the men’s pro race, completing the course in 28:21, 29 seconds shy of the 27:52 record set in 1995.
BoCo gives grants for food truck electrification
Food trucks licensed to operate in Boulder County can now receive 80% of the cost of upgrading to electric battery systems and energy-efficient kitchen equipment through a new grant program.
The program could help more than 180 businesses, according to a press release.
“Together, we’re building a future fueled by clean electricity,” Susie Strife, director of sustainability for Boulder County, said in the release. “By electrifying everything we currently run on gas or natural gas — even food trucks — we can create healthier communities, improve air quality, and reduce costs.”
The grant is offered through Boulder County’s Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE), in collaboration with the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) and the City of Boulder.
Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis while funding lasts. The funding is part of PACE’s budget for rebates and incentives, which totals $1.6 million for all programs.
An electrification rally will be hosted June 3 from 2-4 p.m. at the Latino Chamber of Commerce (1925 Pike Road, Suite 202, Longmont). The event “will include electrified food truck demos, advice from experts on food truck electrification, support from the RAQC and PACE teams, and free food and drinks.” RSVP at bit.ly/ElectricFoodTruckBW
In other news…
• Boulder’s free park-to-park shuttle is back up and running for the season through Sept. 1. The shuttle runs weekends and holidays every 15 minutes to and from Chautauqua Park with 15 stops throughout Boulder. More info: ParktoPark.org
• The Boulder-based clean energy think tank RMI — formerly Rocky Mountain Institute — has laid off 10% of its staff. According to the nonprofit’s webpage, the organization had over 700 employees worldwide. A spokesperson for the organization said the layoffs were part of a “right-sizing RMI to ensure our longevity and leadership in a more complex global energy landscape.” The spokesperson said the recent termination of two grants from the Department of Energy totaling $6.8 million did not contribute to the layoffs.